A Model for Openness: Saudi Arabia Expands Pathways into the Profession

Dr. Ahmad Almeghames

Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)

Dr. Ahmad Almeghames serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA) since 2006. With more than 25 years of experience in accounting, auditing, and professional regulation, he has been playing a key role in advancing the accounting profession in Saudi Arabia and across the region.

He holds a Ph.D. in Accounting from Mississippi State University, United States, and began his career in academia at King Saud University before assuming leadership roles at SOCPA. Under his leadership, SOCPA has strengthened its position as a leading voice in global accounting reform and innovation.

Internationally, Dr. Almeghames is a Board Member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and Chair of the Regional Partnership for promotion of Sustainability Reporting under UNCTAD-ISAR. He also represents Saudi Arabia in the United Nations Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting.

Throughout his career, Dr. Almeghames has contributed significantly to the development of international best practices in financial reporting, quality assurance, and sustainability. His leadership has been recognized globally, including receiving the ICAEW Award for outstanding contribution to the profession.

Wesal Alqarawi

Communications and Public Relations Lead at the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA)

Wesal Alqarawi is a Communications and Public Relations Lead at the Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants (SOCPA). In her role, she drives strategic communication initiatives that strengthen SOCPA’s influence in advancing the accounting and auditing profession in Saudi Arabia and internationally. She leads partnerships with key stakeholders, oversees high-profile events, and develops impactful communication strategies to enhance visibility and engagement.

With over a decade of experience spanning public relations, communications, and translation management, Wesal has held progressive leadership roles, including Team Lead at Vinnell Arabia, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, where she spearheaded quality initiatives and contributed to successful ISO certifications.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Translation from King Saud University and multiple certifications, including ISO 17100 & ISO 9001 Lead Auditor Training. Recognized for her excellence, Wesal has received several awards, including SOCPA’s Employee of the Year (2023) and Northrop Grumman’s Global Quality Award (2017).

Michelle Cardwell

Principal

Michelle joined IFAC at the start of 2024, focusing on accountancy education, thought leadership, and international standards. In this role, she is part of the team responsible for IFAC’s International Education Standards, and works with the International Panel on Accountancy Education on revisions and supporting guidance. Michelle also supports IFAC’s work to promote the development, adoption, and implementation of high-quality international standards.

Michelle began her career at Deloitte, where she spent over eight years in their risk advisory practice, specializing in providing financial reporting and financial management advice on a range of complex central government and transport projects. After leaving Deloitte, Michelle spent time at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), as well as the UK Financial Reporting Council’s Lab. In both roles, she was responsible for developing guidance, thought leadership, and policy pieces on a range of financial reporting, assurance, and sustainability topics.

Michelle is a chartered accountant (ICAEW). She holds a MSc in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics, and a BS in Political Science and a BA in American Studies, both from Arizona State University.

Dana Jensen

Senior Manager, IFAC

Dana Jensen is a trilingual Senior Manager with more than 10 years of experience working at IFAC to support the development, adoption, and implementation of high-quality international standards. She is primarily responsible for managing engagement with the Middle East North Africa (MENA) and Caribbean regions at IFAC. She is also the lead staff responsible for managing the IFAC Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) Development & Advisory Group, which actively contributes to IFACs strategic objectives by raising awareness on PAO development, facilitating adoption and implementation of international standards and best practices, and empowering PAOs with guidance, leadership, and technical assistance. Since 2021, Dana has led IFAC’s Islamic Finance thought leadership program to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it promotes socially responsible development and links to economic growth and social welfare.

Prior to her time at IFAC, Dana was a Policy Coordinator at the United Nations (UN) in the Department for Peacekeeping Operations. She holds an MSc from Columbia University (2011); Prince Sultan University-Banque Saudi Fransi Graduate Fellow in Islamic Finance (2021-2023); and holds a Diploma in Islamic Finance from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (2023).

Dana was born in New York to parents that worked at the UN as diplomats. She identifies as a Third Culture Kid with family in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. She lived in several countries in the Middle East including Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon before settling back in New York for University and Graduate level studies in 2004. While currently residing in New York with her husband and kids, Dana continues to travel to the Middle East regularly.